Downloaded from Bioscientifica.Com at 09/28/2021 08:12:18PM Via Free Access 678 L

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Downloaded from Bioscientifica.Com at 09/28/2021 08:12:18PM Via Free Access 678 L Reproduction (2001) 121, 677–683 Review Mechanisms for pattern formation leading to axis formation and lineage allocation in mammals: a marsupial perspective Lynne Selwood Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, 3010 Vic, Australia Developing patterns in early embryogenesis are analysed in conceptuses from several families, including Dasyuridae, Phalangeridae, Macropodidae and Didelphidae, in which cleavage has been examined in some detail. Features common to cleavage and blastocyst formation, and in some cases to hypoblast formation, are used to develop an outline of possible mechanisms leading to axis formation and lineage allocation. Relevant features that have been described only in some species are also included. It is suggested that certain features of marsupial cleavage establish patterns in the developing blastocyst epithelia, pluriblast, trophoblast and hypoblast that contribute to axis formation and lineage allocation. All marsupials examined had a polarized oocyte or conceptus, the polarity of which was related to the conceptus embryonic–abembryonic axis and, eventually, the conceptus dorsal–ventral axis and the formation of the pluriblast (future embryo) and trophoblast. The embryonic dorsal–ventral and anterior–posterior axes were established after the allocation of hypoblast and epiblast. Mechanisms that appear to result in patterning of the developing epithelia leading to axis formation and lineage allocation are discussed, and include sperm entry point, gravity, conceptus polarity, differentials in cell–zona, cell–cell and cell-type (boundary effects) contacts, cell division order during cleavage and signals external to the conceptus. A model of the patterning effects is included. The applicability of these mechanisms to other amniotes, including eutherian mammals, is also examined. Because of the simplified nature of blastocyst formation, environment by development of a placenta. This review will study of marsupial development has the potential to give show how a study of early marsupial development reveals insights into developmental mechanisms and evolution of potential mechanisms for lineage allocation and axis the mammalian embryo, especially with respect to axis formation. formation and lineage allocation. Marsupials do not form a morula but instead the blastomeres undergo a mesenchyme– Conceptus and embryonic axes epithelial transformation during cleavage to form a unilaminar epithelium in which both the pluriblast (equiv- In amniotes, because early processes are concerned with alent to the inner cell mass; ICM) and the trophoblast are establishing the extra-embryonic lineages and the embryo superficial in position. The terminology of Johnson and proper does not emerge until later, it is important to distinguish Selwood (1996), which allows equivalent structures in between axes developing with respect to the conceptus and different mammalian groups to be compared, is used in this those developing with respect to the embryo proper. The two review. axes are related but are not exactly the same (Fig. 1). Axis Marsupial studies may indicate some evolutionary formation and lineage allocation are intimately related in all processes because marsupial conceptuses have features in amniotes in which the separation of embryonic from extra- common with other amniotes. Like the conceptus of reptiles embryonic lineages is preceded by the establishment of the and birds the marsupial conceptus is covered by a number conceptus embryonic–abembryonic axis (E/AbE). The first of egg coats. The mode of formation of the early embryonic extra-embryonic lineages, trophoblast or extra-embryonic and extra-embryonic lineages is remarkably similar to that ectoderm of the yolk sac and then hypoblast (Fig. 1), have found in reptiles and birds, but can be readily seen because fundamental roles in conceptus nourishment and embryonic of the paucity of yolk material. Like the conceptus of signalling. They also are manifestations of the first signs of the eutherian mammals, the marsupial conceptus has to emerging dorsal–ventral (D–V) axis for the conceptus as a prepare itself to obtain nourishment from the uterine whole (Fig. 1). Within the epiblast, which gives rise to the future embryo (Johnson and Selwood, 1996), the definitive Email: [email protected] embryonic D–V and anterior–posterior (A–P) axes of the future © 2001 Journals of Reproduction and Fertility 1470-1626/2001 Downloaded from Bioscientifica.com at 09/28/2021 08:12:18PM via free access 678 L. Selwood Table 1. Possible mechanisms leading to axial gradients or lineage allocation in marsupials Mechanisms Evidence References Uneven distribution of determinants Oocyte or zygote polarity Selwood and Hickford, 1999 (review) Gravity Gravity-related orientation of conceptuses Baggott and Moore, 1990 in one species Sperm entry point Identified in some species showing marked Merry et al., 1995; Selwood, unpublished oocyte polarity before fertilization Cleavage patterns Stylized and specific morphology Selwood, 1992 Intrinsic signals Cell division order creates pattern in Selwood and Smith, 1990 pluriblast and trophoblast Extrinsic signals Developmental arrests in vitro Selwood, 1992 (review) organism emerges (Fig. 1). Apart from the small size, the nants. Direct determinants are defined as determinants the appearance of the marsupial epiblast during gastrulation is presence of which results directly in axial gradients or similar to that of birds, reptiles and monotremes. lineage allocation. Indirect or pattern-forming determinants are determinants the presence of which creates a pattern leading eventually to axial gradients or lineage allocation. Possible mechanisms leading to axial gradients or Polarity may be related to the uneven distribution of direct lineage allocation determinants because the conceptus E/AbE, D–V axis and It is proposed here that axial gradients are set up during the first lineage allocation into pluriblast and trophoblast early development before the axis can be detected mor- appears to be related to the cytoplasmic polarity of the phologically. The processes in marsupials that have the zygote (Fig. 1). The fact that the differences between potential to create patterns in the developing blastocyst pluriblast and trophoblast often disappear soon after the epithelium leading to either axial gradients or lineage blastocyst epithelium is complete (one or two cell divisions) allocation, or both, are discussed below (see Table 1). does not support this contention and indicates that polarity is more likely to be related to the distribution of indirect Conceptus axis formation and pluriblast–trophoblast determinants to ensure that formation of the blastocyst allocation epithelium is localized to one hemisphere. These two alternatives need to be tested experimentally. After cell– Oocyte–zygote polarity. Oocyte–zygote polarity is a zona adhesion begins (Fig. 2), polarity in trophoblast and feature encountered commonly in most marsupial families pluriblast cells becomes related to the blastocyst epithelium, (Figs 1 and 2) and is expressed in the eccentric location of the outer surface of which is apical (Frankenberg and the nucleus or other organelles in oocytes and cleavage Selwood, 1998). This process is in contrast to that in stage conceptuses, the polarized discharge of pale vesicles eutherian mammals, in which only trophoblast cells are releasing an extracellular matrix (ECM) into the cleavage polarized. cavity or vesicles associated with cell–zona adhesion, the polarized nature of cell–zona adhesion, which is always Sperm entry point. Sperm entry point appears to occur localized initially to the hemisphere opposite vesicle preferentially in the hemisphere opposite the accumulation emission (Fig. 3b) and the asymmetric mucoid coat in some of vesicles that contribute to the yolk mass in dasyurid species (Selwood and Hickford, 1999). All early concep- marsupials (Table 1) and within 60Њ of the position of the tuses show polarity but do not all share the same polarized first polar body (Fig. 3). This preference may occur because features. However, all early conceptuses that have been penetration in the hemisphere containing the vesicular analysed ultrastructurally show polarity related to the material of the future yolk mass makes migration of the distribution of vesicles at one pole and nucleus or sperm head difficult or impossible. If the relationship mitochondrial-rich cytoplasm at the other (Selwood and between oocyte polarity, sperm entry point and the future Sathananthan, 1988; Baggott and Moore, 1990; Renfree D–V axis is examined in dasyurids, some parallels with the and Lewis, 1996; Frankenberg and Selwood, 1998). A relationship in the frog can be seen (Fig. 3) that indicate that variety of anchoring devices characterize marsupial zygotes the sperm entry point may be associated with formation of so that the mitochondrial-rich cytoplasm is retained when the conceptus D–V axis. This hypothesis needs to be tested vesicles or the yolk mass are discharged (Breed et al., 1994, experimentally. If the sperm entry point is demonstrated to 1995; Merry et al., 1995; Frankenberg and Selwood, 1998). play a role in conceptus D–V axis formation, the move- Oocyte polarity may be related to polarized distribution ments of the cytoplasm after fertilization may be in response of either direct determinants or indirect maternal determi- to a gravitational stimulus (Table 1). Downloaded from Bioscientifica.com at 09/28/2021 08:12:18PM via free access
Recommended publications
  • EQUINE CONCEPTUS DEVELOPMENT – a MINI REVIEW Maria Gaivão 1, Tom Stout
    Gaivão & Stout Equine conceptus development – a mini review EQUINE CONCEPTUS DEVELOPMENT – A MINI REVIEW DESENVOLVIMENTO DO CONCEPTO DE EQUINO – MINI REVISÃO Maria Gaivão 1, Tom Stout 2 1 - CICV – Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária; ULHT – Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias; [email protected] 2 - Utrecht University, Department of Equine Sciences, Section of Reproduction, The Netherlands. Abstract: Many aspects of early embryonic development in the horse are unusual or unique; this is of scientific interest and, in some cases, considerable practical significance. During early development the number of different cell types increases rapidly and the organization of these increasingly differentiated cells becomes increasingly intricate as a result of various inter-related processes that occur step-wise or simultaneously in different parts of the conceptus (i.e., the embryo proper and its associated membranes and fluid). Equine conceptus development is of practical interest for many reasons. Most significantly, following a high rate of successful fertilization (71-96%) (Ball, 1988), as many as 30-40% of developing embryos fail to survive beyond the first two weeks of gestation (Ball, 1988), the time at which gastrulation begins. Indeed, despite considerable progress in the development of treatments for common causes of sub-fertility and of assisted reproductive techniques to enhance reproductive efficiency, the need to monitor and rebreed mares that lose a pregnancy or the failure to produce a foal, remain sources of considerable economic loss to the equine breeding industry. Of course, the potential causes of early embryonic death are numerous and varied (e.g. persistent mating induced endometritis, endometrial gland insufficiency, cervical incompetence, corpus luteum (CL) failure, chromosomal, genetic and other unknown factors (LeBlanc, 2004).
    [Show full text]
  • Copyright by Alfire Sidik 2019
    Copyright by Alfire Sidik 2019 The Dissertation Committee for Alfire Sidik Certifies that this is the approved version of the following Dissertation: Genetic and Bioinformatic Approaches to Characterize Ethanol Teratogenesis. Committee: Johann K. Eberhart, Supervisor R. Adron Harris Vishwanath R. Iyer Christopher S. Sullivan John B. Wallingford Genetic and Bioinformatic Approaches to Characterize Ethanol Teratogenesis. by Alfire Sidik Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Texas at Austin August 2019 Acknowledgements I first and foremost want to extend my deepest gratitude to my mentor, Dr. Johann K. Eberhart, without whom this dissertation would not be possible. Johann, thank you for your invaluable insight, patience, guidance, and unwavering encouragement. I am also extremely grateful to Mary Swartz. Mary, you truly are the glue that holds the lab together. I joined the lab with little-to-no wet lab and embryology experience and attribute a lot of what I learned to you. Thank you for always being receptive to my questions and for your valuable scientific advice. I would like to express my appreciation to all of my committee members for their constructive advice, suggestions, and professional guidance. I would especially like to thank Dr. Adron Harris. Adron, thank you for your compassion and support of me throughout the years. I’d like to thank all members of the lab, both past and present, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Thank you Neil McCarthy, Patrick McGurk, Ben Lovely, Anna Percy, Angie Martinez, Tim Kuka, Ranjeet Kar, Desire Buckley, Yohaan Fernandes, Scott Tucker, and Josh Everson.
    [Show full text]
  • The Hypoblast (Visceral Endoderm): an Evo-Devo Perspective Claudio D
    REVIEW 1059 Development 139, 1059-1069 (2012) doi:10.1242/dev.070730 © 2012. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd The hypoblast (visceral endoderm): an evo-devo perspective Claudio D. Stern1,* and Karen M. Downs2 Summary animals develop very quickly; their early cleavages occur without When amniotes appeared during evolution, embryos freed G1 or G2 phases and consist only of mitotic (M) and DNA synthetic themselves from intracellular nutrition; development slowed, (S) phases, and they rely upon maternal mRNAs and proteins until the mid-blastula transition was lost and maternal components zygotic gene expression is activated, usually at around the 11th cell became less important for polarity. Extra-embryonic tissues division (2024 cells). Rapid development and absence of growth emerged to provide nutrition and other innovations. One such imply that the embryonic axes or body plan must be set up quite tissue, the hypoblast (visceral endoderm in mouse), acquired a quickly, within about 24 hours of fertilization, and by subdivision of role in fixing the body plan: it controls epiblast cell movements the original mass of protoplasm, as seen in long germ band insects, leading to primitive streak formation, generating bilateral such as Drosophila. Because of the absence of early growth, the symmetry. It also transiently induces expression of pre-neural fertilized egg of anamniotes contains all the nutrients necessary to markers in the epiblast, which also contributes to delay streak sustain the embryo until it can feed itself, some time after hatching. formation. After gastrulation, the hypoblast might protect In amphibians, nutrition is provided by intracellular yolk, and in prospective forebrain cells from caudalizing signals.
    [Show full text]
  • Development in Vitro of Marsupials: a Comparative Review of Species and a Timetable of Cleavage and Early Blastocyst Stages of Development in Monodelphis Domestica
    Int..I. /)e,-.lIiol. ~I: 397-410 (1997) 397 Development in vitro of Marsupials: a comparative review of species and a timetable of cleavage and early blastocyst stages of development in Monodelphis domestica LYNNE SELWOOD'*, EDWARD S. ROBINSON', ROGER A. PEDERSEN3 and JOHN l. VANDEBERG' 'SChool of Zoology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria. Australia, ZDepartment of Genetics, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas. USA and 3Laboratory of Radiobiology and Environmental Health, University of California. San Francisco, California, USA ABSTRACT The development of marsupial oocytes and embryos in vitro is reviewed. Most stages of development have been cultured successfully, usually in a complex medium with added fetal calf serum. Simpler media without added serum have been developed for fertilization and cleavage in vitro. Culture systems have been established for oocyte maturation and fertilization in the grey short- tailed opossum and for cleavage from the zygote to the early expanding unilaminar blastocyst in a number of other marsupials. Survival in vitro of the unilaminar and early bilaminar blastocyst stages is limited in all species examined. In contrast, late bilaminar, trilaminar, embryonic and fetal stages develop at rates approximating those in vivo. More stages have been cultured successfully in Sminthopsis macroura than in any other species. It has been cultured from the late bilaminar blastocyst to within 18 h of birth. Stages of cleavage and unilaminar blastocyst formation of Monads/phis domestica timed by videotaping mating animals, proceeded at similar rates in vivo and in vitro. As in other marsupials, cleavage in this opossum is characterized by a polarized conceptus. This polarity is expressed in the distribution of organelles in the zygote and the localization of secretion of the extracellular matrix material into the cleavage cavity and of the initial cell-zona attachment.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded from Bioscientifica.Com at 10/10/2021 09:01:50PM Via Free Access 174 R
    MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON IMPLANTATION IN MARSUPIALS R. L. HUGHES School of Zoology, University of New South Wales, P.O. Box 1, Kensington, New South Wales 2033, Australia This paper reviews some of the more important literature relating to the morphological aspects of marsupial implantation in conjunction with hitherto unpublished observations. The data, although fragmentary, are derived from a wide variety of marsupial species and are presented in support of the thesis that fetal-maternal relationships in marsupials can most appropriately be divided into two phases. The first phase occupies up to two-thirds or more of pregnancy while the blastocyst undergoes expansion. The three primary germ layers (endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm) are established and embryonic development proceeds at least as far as the pre-fetal or early fetal stage. Im- plantation is not known to occur in any marsupial during this period as an intact shell membrane completely separates fetal and maternal tissues. The second phase begins during the terminal third of gestation and is initiated by the rupture of the shell membrane. This is the period when almost all fetal differentiation occurs, and in only some marsupials does the trophoblast exhibit invasive properties that result in either a rudimentary implantation or, in one group (the Peramelidae), a relatively typical implantation reminiscent of that found in eutherian mammals. The details of the morphological events during the first and second phases of marsupial development will now be considered separately. Although the photomicrographs and much of the accompanying text are concerned with only three marsupials, Trichosurus vulpécula (brush possum), Phascolarctos cinereus (koala) and Perameles nasuta (bandicoot), they are considered to provide an adequate coverage of the range of fetal-maternal adaptation relating to im¬ plantation in marsupials as a whole.
    [Show full text]
  • 26 April 2010 TE Prepublication Page 1 Nomina Generalia General Terms
    26 April 2010 TE PrePublication Page 1 Nomina generalia General terms E1.0.0.0.0.0.1 Modus reproductionis Reproductive mode E1.0.0.0.0.0.2 Reproductio sexualis Sexual reproduction E1.0.0.0.0.0.3 Viviparitas Viviparity E1.0.0.0.0.0.4 Heterogamia Heterogamy E1.0.0.0.0.0.5 Endogamia Endogamy E1.0.0.0.0.0.6 Sequentia reproductionis Reproductive sequence E1.0.0.0.0.0.7 Ovulatio Ovulation E1.0.0.0.0.0.8 Erectio Erection E1.0.0.0.0.0.9 Coitus Coitus; Sexual intercourse E1.0.0.0.0.0.10 Ejaculatio1 Ejaculation E1.0.0.0.0.0.11 Emissio Emission E1.0.0.0.0.0.12 Ejaculatio vera Ejaculation proper E1.0.0.0.0.0.13 Semen Semen; Ejaculate E1.0.0.0.0.0.14 Inseminatio Insemination E1.0.0.0.0.0.15 Fertilisatio Fertilization E1.0.0.0.0.0.16 Fecundatio Fecundation; Impregnation E1.0.0.0.0.0.17 Superfecundatio Superfecundation E1.0.0.0.0.0.18 Superimpregnatio Superimpregnation E1.0.0.0.0.0.19 Superfetatio Superfetation E1.0.0.0.0.0.20 Ontogenesis Ontogeny E1.0.0.0.0.0.21 Ontogenesis praenatalis Prenatal ontogeny E1.0.0.0.0.0.22 Tempus praenatale; Tempus gestationis Prenatal period; Gestation period E1.0.0.0.0.0.23 Vita praenatalis Prenatal life E1.0.0.0.0.0.24 Vita intrauterina Intra-uterine life E1.0.0.0.0.0.25 Embryogenesis2 Embryogenesis; Embryogeny E1.0.0.0.0.0.26 Fetogenesis3 Fetogenesis E1.0.0.0.0.0.27 Tempus natale Birth period E1.0.0.0.0.0.28 Ontogenesis postnatalis Postnatal ontogeny E1.0.0.0.0.0.29 Vita postnatalis Postnatal life E1.0.1.0.0.0.1 Mensurae embryonicae et fetales4 Embryonic and fetal measurements E1.0.1.0.0.0.2 Aetas a fecundatione5 Fertilization
    [Show full text]
  • The Early Development of the Cat (Felis Domestica)
    The Early Development of the Cat (Felis domestica). By J. P. Hill, D.Sc., F.R.S., and Margaret Tribe, D.Sc. (From the Department of Anatomy (Embryology and Histology), University College, London). With Plates 24-9 and 12 Text-figures. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION .......... 514 MATERIAL AND METHODS . .516 CHAPTER I.—THE OVUM or THE CAT ...... 518 1. Maturation and Ovulation ...... 51S 2. Structure of the Ovum 520 3. Fertilization 523 4. Remarks on Fertilization ....... 531 CHAPTER II.—THE PROCESS OF CLEAVAGE ..... 533 1. Description of Cleavage ....... 533 2. Remarks on Cleavage ....... 550 3. Yolk-elimination (Deutoplastnolysis) ..... 553 CHAPTER III.—FORMATION OF THE BLASTOCYST .... 554 1. Late Morula and Early Blastocyst Stages from the Uteius . 554 2. Formation of the Didermic Blastocyst .... 559 CHAPTER IV.—DISCUSSION ........ 574 1. Mode of Formation of the Blastocyst .... 574 2. History of Embryonal Knot and Covering Trophoblast . 579 3. Prochordal Plate 589 LIST OF REFERENCES ........ 596 EXPLANATION OF PLATES • 600 NO. 272 M m 514 J. P. HILL AND MARGARET TRIBE INTRODUCTION. OUR knowledge of the early development of the Cat, as indeed of the Carnivora in general, is singularly incomplete. Th. L. W. Bischoff, in his classical monograph ' Entwicklungs- geschichte des Hunde-Eies ' published in 1845, provided the first account of the development of a Carnivore from the unsegmented egg onwards and, considering the date of his work, his achievement was really a remarkable one. In addi- tion to later embryonic stages, he described and figured a series of segmenting ova and blastocysts of the Dog, with such fidelity and accuracy that his account is, even to-day, of the greatest interest and value.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Development, Implantation and Amniogenesis in the Indian Vampire Bat,<Emphasis Type="Italic">Megaderma
    Proc, Indian Acad. ScL, Vol. 87 B (Animal Sciences-2), No.6, June 1978, pp. 91-104, © printed in India Early development, implantation and amniogenesis in the Indian vampire bat, Megaderma lyra lyra (Geoffroy) A GOPALAKRISHNA and M S KHAPARDE* Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Nagpur 440 001 ·Present address: NCERT, New Delhi MS received 22 December 1977 Abstract. The embryo of Megaderma lyra lyra enters the uterus as a morula. The blastocyst establishes contact with the uterine wall circumferentially at the level of implantation. The orientation of the embryonic mass at early stages is variable, but the flat embryonic disc at later stages is invariably mesometrially oriented. The pre­ implantation response of the uterus is markedly evident in the enormous expansion of the uterine glands and the hypertrophy of their cells. After the attachment of the blastocyst there is a rapid degeneration of the uterine glands and the cells of the endo­ metrial stroma resulting in the formation of a thick zone of symplasma into which roots of the trophoblast enter. The maternal blood capillaries increase in number and their endothelial cells undergo hypertrophy. The amniotic cavity is formed by cavitation, but with the expansion of the embryonic disc the original roof of the am­ nion undergoes rupture and loss. The definitive amnion is formed by the develop­ ment of folds from the margin of the embryonic disc. Keywords. Early development; implantation and amniogenesis; Megaderma lyra lyra. 1. Introduction Among the seventeen extant families
    [Show full text]
  • Early Embryonic Development, Assisted Reproductive Technologies, and Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology in Domestic Mammals
    Early embryonic development, assisted reproductive technologies, and pluripotent stem cell biology in domestic mammals Hall, Vanessa Jane; Hinrichs, K.; Lazzari, G.; Betts, D. H.; Hyttel, Poul Published in: Veterinary Journal DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.05.026 Publication date: 2013 Document version Peer reviewed version Citation for published version (APA): Hall, V. J., Hinrichs, K., Lazzari, G., Betts, D. H., & Hyttel, P. (2013). Early embryonic development, assisted reproductive technologies, and pluripotent stem cell biology in domestic mammals. Veterinary Journal, 197(2), 128-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.05.026 Download date: 26. sep.. 2021 The Veterinary Journal xxx (2013) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect The Veterinary Journal journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/tvjl Review Early embryonic development, assisted reproductive technologies, and pluripotent stem cell biology in domestic mammals ⇑ V. Hall a,1, K. Hinrichs b,1, G. Lazzari c,1, D.H. Betts d,1, P. Hyttel a, a Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark b Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA c Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, Cremona, Italy d Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada article info abstract Article history: Over many decades assisted reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination, embryo transfer, Accepted 4 May 2013 in vitro production (IVP) of embryos, cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), and stem cell cul- Available online xxxx ture, have been developed with the aim of refining breeding strategies for improved production and health in animal husbandry.
    [Show full text]
  • I the First Week of Life Conception to Implantation Period
    I the first week of life conception to implantation period I. CONCEPTION (FERTILIZATION) II. CLEAVAGE Fig. 1–1 Figs. 1–1, 1–2, 1–3A 1. Conception is the process whereby one male gamete (sperm) 1. Cleavage is defined as a rapid succession of mitotic divisions fuses with one female gamete (ovum) resulting in a new cell resulting in the production of a progressively larger number called the zygote. Since each gamete contains 23 chromo- of increasingly smaller cells called blastomeres. somes (1n), the diploid number (2n) of 23 pairs is restored 2. Cleavage occurs in the zygote as it makes its way through in the embryo. The sex of the new individual is determined the uterine tube to the uterine cavity. No true growth occurs at the moment of conception by the type of sex chromosome since there is no increase in protoplasmic volume but only an in the male gamete. The zygote contains genetic information increase in the number of cells. from both parents. 3. The mass of cells reaches the uterine cavity when it is com- 2. Conception occurs in the infundibular region of the uterine posed of approximately 16 cells. It has the appearance of a tube. The ovum is surrounded by a thick layer of glycoprotein mulberry and is referred to as a morula. The cells in the cen- called the zona pellucida. Sperm become firmly attached to ter of the mass are called collectively the inner cell mass and the zona pellucida. After one sperm enters the ovum, perme- will give rise to the embryo proper.
    [Show full text]
  • Observations on Some Early Stages of Development and Implantation of the Blastocyst of Rhinolophus Rouxi (Temminck)*
    Proe. Indian Aead. Sci., Vol. 84 B, No. 6, 1976, pp. 201-209 Observations on some early stages of development and implantation of the blastocyst of Rhinolophus rouxi (Temminck)* D. A. BHIWGADE Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Nagpur 440001 MS received 9 June 1976 ; revised 13 September 1976 ABSTRACT The embryo enters the uterus at the morula stage of development. The l;rogestational response of the uterus is characterized by the enlarge- ment of the uterine lumen near the centre of the right uterine cornu into a large spherical chamber in which the blastocyst undergoes nidation, and by a pronounced hypertrophy of the utL rine glands on all the sides of the implantation chamber. The implantation of the blastocyst is circum- ferential, and the embryonic disc is directed towards the side of the uterus which is between the mesometrial and the lateral sides. The primitive amniotic cavity is formed by cavitation and the definitive amnion is later formed by the formation of folds from the margin of the embryonic disc. 1. INTRODUCTION ALTHOUGH Chiroptera is one of the largest orders of mammals irtcluding over a hundred extant genera of bats incorporated in seventeen families, 1 some det~.ils of embryology are available with reference to a few species belonging to a few families only and even amongst these, the details regard- ing the early development and placentation are lacking in most cases. Among the Megachiroptera, which includes a single family, Pteropidae, details of the embryology of a few species are known through the work of Gohre, ~ Selenka, 3 Keibel, 4 Van der Sprenkel, 5 Kohlbrugge, e Moghe,V,g Wimsatt a and Karim.
    [Show full text]
  • 4 Mammalian Embryology and Organogenesis
    Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2018 4. Mammalian embryology and organogenesis Werneburg, Ingmar ; Spiekman, Stephan N F Abstract: 4.1 Historical introduction : The origin of the human being is one of the major philosophical questions. One way of answering it is through an ontogenetic and evolutionary approach. Theories about the developmental origin in the mother’s womb were first documented by Greek scholars in the 5th century BC (Breidbach 2015). Being dependent on the success of reproduction, fertility has triggered human thinking for a much longer period of human evolution as is documented in the art of the Paleolithic, the Mesolithic, the Neolithic, and later phases of human cultural evolution (Fig. 4.1). Fertility was manifested by the representation of stout mother goddesses with a demonstrative focus on their hips and breasts (Fig. 4.1 C) and by the presentation of erect penises in men (Fig. 4.1 G). In some cases, the process of birth was depicted as a key event of life (Fig. 4.1 D). Birth, pregnancy, and lactation of other vertebrate species were also of interest to ancient cultures and were illustrated, particularly, among species that played an important role in everyday life, such as prey and domesticated, mostly mammalian, animals (Fig. 4.1 A and I). Fertility rites, including hierogamy (Fig. 4.1 H) and sodomy (Fig. 4.1 J), are thought to have played a major role in prehistoric cults and were meant to increase the number of offspring and to guarantee their health (Frazer 1922, Campbell 1960).
    [Show full text]